Objectives: To introduce the concept of rapid reviews (RRs); impart an understanding of the utility of RRs as an evidence synthesis product; detail methodological approaches to RRs; and provide practical experience in thinking through RR development.

Description: This workshop will be a mix of presentations and small group exercises. Specifically, participants will be presented with a real-life emergent public health issue requiring a timely decision. Participants will be asked to address this issue using a RR approach from the vantage point of a team developing a RR protocol keeping in mind the end-user needs of a health decision-making authority. Given a particular timeline and public health event changing in real time, participants will need to consider question development, recommend an appropriate search strategy and selection criteria including the incorporation of Cochrane Reviews, data analysis, type and feasibility of syntheses, potential biases, internal and external validity. This exercise will be followed by an open discussion exploring technical issues related to RRs as well as logistical considerations, report layout and customization, transparency, and communication of policy implications to decision makers. The overall goal is for participants to understand issues involved in the conduct of RRs to inform urgent public health decisions, and how RRs fit into the spectrum of knowledge synthesis review methods.